Mini Mill Holding Large Parts

[jjr2001]

I have two machinist vises that I use on the mini mill. Zero lift! Well not quite zero but less than my Wilton drill press vise conversion. A little different to operate but they are rock solid. I made some dedicated table clamps for these vises so they could be placed very close together or far apart on the table. I use a parallel to align the second vise to the first when ever it is needed for large work. Now I can hold much larger pieces on the mini mill with the vises.
I normally only tram in the first vise on the right and then let the parallel do its work for the second vise. I like to set the first vise on the right side of the table and then reference anything else to that. Allows me to mount and use the rotary table and not have to remove the main vise. If you are going to use this type of setup it would be best to buy both vises at the same time and they should be identical. Mine are not so I need a small spacer to bring the short one up to the height of the high one.

Cheers, JR

[Paul Jones]

JR, I regret not purchasing a toolmakers vise with the side slots for clamping the vise. It has slots at each end and a series of holes along each side. I improvised two side clamps containing a pair of drill rods each for inserting into the side holes but with 20/20 hindsight I should have purchased something like what you have. Having an identical pair of toolmaker vises like your would be even better. Thanks, Paul

[jjr2001]

Hi Paul, actually I have two some what different vises but they both have slots down the sides which make it easy to make custom clamps for them. However I did buy them from different sources and about 20 years between purchases. So I made a set of "parallels" to use when I run them on the table at the same time. One is about .100" higher than the other!

Cheers, JR

[DIYer]

Thanks jjr2001! We've added your Mini Mill Large Part Holder to our Vises category,
as well as to your builder page: jjr2001's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Mini Mill Large Part Holder by jjr2001

tags: mill, parts holder